Call for Papers: International Conference on Post-War Furniture in Central Europe

24 Jul 2025

Small Architecture. Photo: MUO - Zdeněk Sodoma

On the occasion of the exhibition SMALL ARCHITECTURE: FURNITURE AND INTERIOR DESIGN OF DŘEVOPODNIK HOLEŠOV, we are pleased to invite you to an international scholarly konference focused on the post-war development of the furniture industry in Central Europe. The aim of the event is to reflect on the impact of nationalisation, industrial reorganisation, and ideological frameworks on the form and production of mass-produced furniture.

We welcome contributions from scholars in the fields of art history, design, architecture, industrial engineering, ergonomics, as well as economics and sociology. Submissions may focus on specific enterprises, designers or products, or address broader cultural and political contexts.

THE CONFERENCE WILL EXPLORE TOPICS INCLUDING:

nationalisation and restructuring of the furniture industry
bentwood furniture as a lasting phenomenon
new materials and technologies and their influence on furniture design
inspiration and imitation: western influences in socialist design
musealisation of post-war furniture
other related themes

CONFERENCE DETAILS:

presentation length: max. 20 minutes + discussion
participants’ fee: 1000 CZK / 40 EUR (includes exhibition catalogue, conference materials, online proceedings, and refreshments)
presentation language: Czech or English
audience fee: 50 CZK / 2 EUR, students free of chargé

Please submit an abstract and a brief CV (each max. 1500 characters, including spaces) by 10 August 2025 to: jenistova@muo.cz. Notifications of acceptance will be sent by 15 August 2025. The conference proceedings will be published online afterwards.

DATE: 2 October 2025
VENUE: OLOMOUC MUSEUM OF ART, Czech Republic
LANGUAGES: Czech and English (simultaneous interpretation provided)
ORGANISERS: OLOMOUC MUSEUM OF ART – NATIONAL CENTRE
FOR FURNITURE DESIGN – CLUSTER OF CZECH FURNITURE MANUFACTURERS

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